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This Week in Farm to School: 9/11/18

NFSN StaffTuesday, September 11, 2018

Every week, we share opportunities, action items and a selection of media stories that relate to the farm to school movement. To submit an item for consideration, send us an email. To be considered, content should be of national interest to the farm to school community.

Grants & Funding1. The Bee Grant
The Bee Cause Project empowers students, teachers, and community members to experience the wonder, ingenuity, beauty, and power of the honey bee. Join the network of passionate educators, beekeepers, and community leaders in building the buzz for integrating bees into STEAM education. Learn more and apply here.

2. Clif Bar Family Foundation Small GrantsThe Clif Bar Family Foundation awards small grants for projects focused on one of five priority areas, including creating a robust, healthy food system, increasing opportunities for outdoor activity, and building stronger communities, a great fit for school garden projects. These grants are awarded for general organizational support as well as funding for specific projects. Learn more and apply here.

Webinars & Events1. NFSN WEBINAR State Farm to School Month ProclamationsSeptember 20, 2-3pm ETIn addition to the federal Congressional resolution NFSN championed in 2010 to establish October as National Farm to School Month, many states have passed resolutions declaring a Farm to School Week or Month. Similar language can usually be used in your state legislature or for a proclamation by your governor. Join us to learn from NFSN Core and Supporting Partners how they: 1) advocated and obtained these proclamations, 2) used these farm to school weeks/months to celebrate farm to school, and 3) used these celebrations as a springboard for more farm to school policies. Guest speakers will include NFSN Arkansas Core Partner, Emily English, of Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, and NFSN Hawaii Core Partner, Natalie McKinney, of Kokua Hawaii Foundation. This webinar will be recorded and available for future viewing. Register here.

2. NFSN WEBINAR Results from the 2018 National Farm to Early Care and Education SurveyOctober 11, 2-3pm ETThe National Farm to School Network (NFSN), in partnership with Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, launched for the 2018 National Survey of Early Care and Education Providers in the spring of 2018. Over 2,000 ECE providers from across the country responded and shared information about current farm to ECE initiatives, motivations for participation, challenges to starting or expanding farm to ECE, and more. Join the National Farm to School Network and Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems to hear about the survey finding and learn how you can use the results to promote farm to ECE in your state and community. This webinar will be recorded and archived for future viewing. Register here.

3. Michigan Good Food Summit: Amplifying Voices for EquityOctober 22 // East Lansing, MIThis October, the Michigan Good Food Summit will amplify underrepresented voices across the food system as we continue advancing the Good Food Charter's vision of equity, sustainability and a thriving economy for all of Michigan and its people. Whether you're a food consumer, grower or buyer; line cook, server or chef; advocate, educator or policymaker, connect with others advancing good food and equity in Michigan. Register here.

Resources & Research1. Policy Brief: Supporting Local Foods in the 2018 Farm BillThe Berkeley Food Institute is pleased to share a new policy brief for the 2018 Farm Bill, Supporting Local Foods in the 2018 Farm Bill, written by Ryan Smith, a graduate of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. Growing consumer demand for local food has the potential to improve food access for communities and add to farmers’ bottom line. Programs like the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Programs, the Value Added Producer Grants Program, the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Program, and the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program are described in this brief. As the Farm Bill conference committee meets in Washington, it is vital that they have access to research on programs like these that support local and regional food systems. Read the brief here.

2. Sharing Success: A Step-by-Step Guide for Communicating School Health AchievementsThe National Association of Chronic Disease Directors has released a new resource to assist school districts and schools in promoting their school health achievements. Sharing Success: A Step-by-Step Guide for Communicating School Health Achievements outlines principles for creating compelling messages and provides real-world examples, a communications planning worksheet, and multiple additional resources. The guide, which was developed with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, aims to help busy school professionals build support for healthy schools by sharing accomplishments related to school nutrition, physical education and physical activity, and chronic condition management. Read the guide here.

Job Opportunities1. Strategic Planning Consultant, National Farm to School Network (Remote)National Farm to School Network seeks a skilled and experienced professional to facilitate a strategic planning process for the organization that will set the direction of NFSN beyond 2020. The process aims to review gains made during the 2017-2019 phase, retool strategies as needed, create space for innovation to meet the emerging needs of the movement, and plan for organizational stability and sustainability. Read the full Request for Proposals here. Proposals are due no later than Oct. 1, 2018.

2. Farm to School and Education for Sustainability (EFS) Professional Learning Educator, Shelburne Farms (Shelburne, VT)This position is responsible for supporting K-12 educators in Shelburne Farms’ EFS, Farm to School, and place-based professional learning programs, working collaboratively with the Director of Professional Learning to create high-quality professional learning experiences for educators to transform their practice and connect them to a growing community of practice and network of educators. Learn more and apply here.

3. Senior Manager, Federal Government Affairs, The American Diabetes Association (Arlington, VA)The Senior Manager provides critical planning, support, outreach, and analysis on a variety of legislative activities and plays a key role in executing events and meetings designed to achieve the federal legislative goals of the Association and increase the Association’s presence on Capitol Hill. Learn more and apply here.

4. W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network Fellowship, The Center for Creative LeadershipThe Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) is now accepting applications for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network. CCL is looking for diverse candidates who demonstrate high-potential to be a transformational leader and are at a pivotal moment in their careers to benefit from this type of fellowship program. Apply by September 30. Learn more and apply here.

5. Director of Child Nutrition, Project Bread (Boston, MA)The Director of Child Nutrition will lead Project Bread’s Child Nutrition Outreach Program (CNOP) team, support the Chefs in Schools program, and provide content area expertise in nutrition to the organization at-large. Learn more and apply here.

6. Farm-to-School AmeriCorps VISTA (Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i)Mālama Kaua`i’s farm-to-school pilot, Māla‘ai Kula, is seeking the next AmeriCorps member to build the capacity of Kawaikini's food and garden programs to ensure that no student goes hungry and no parent must choose between their child receiving a culturally relevant education or getting fed at school. Learn more and apply here.

Farm to School in the NewsNorth Dakota district adopts farm to school programStudents in a North Dakota school district will have more access to fresh, locally produced foods through a farm to school program. Deb Egeland, assistant director of child nutrition at North Dakota’s Department of Public Instruction and NFSN North Dakota Core Partner, says the program will promote healthy eating and will offer educational benefits through field trips. (The Bismarck Tribune)

Maine schools celebrate success, relevance of gardensThe Maine School Garden Network is holding an event to celebrate the most successful school gardening programs in southern Maine. Called the Summer Success Garden Tour, the event will allow participants to meet and talk with local school garden educators, experience how these programs work first hand and learn about ways to enhance the school garden experience for students. (The Forecaster)

California students learn gardening in new farm to table classStudents at Rosedale Middle School are getting a firsthand understanding of the phrase “farm to table.” The school started its first farm to table class this year, which tasks around 20 students with growing trees, fruits, and vegetables in the school’s small orchard and garden. The students, mostly eighth graders, also get to pick the crops and use them in cooking. (Bakersfield.com)

Read past editions of This Week for more funding opportunities, webinars and events, jobs, and ways to take action to support farm to school growth across the country.